Actor Richard LeParmentier, best known for portraying Admiral Motti in Star Wars, died suddenly at the age of 66 while visiting his family in Austin, Texas. The Pittsburgh-born actor worked regularly throughout the 70s and 80s, appearing in such films as Octopussy and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

“Every time we find someone’s lack of faith disturbing, we’ll think of him,” the official statement from his family reads, referring to the actor’s famous scene in Episode IV: A New Hope in which Darth Vader chokes Admiral Motti for doubting the power of the Force.

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Read the family’s statement in full below.

Every time we find someone’s lack of faith disturbing, we’ll think of him.

At age 66, Richard Le Parmentier is one with the Force. We’re deeply grateful to the many devoted fans who have posted personal remembrances of our dad as a warm, genuine person with an unparalleled joie de vivre and gift for friendship (not to mention a mean petanque player). To his fans and friends, his lines were the ultimate power in the universe. He absolutely loved traveling the world and meeting his friends and fellow Star Wars fan - whose tributes have given us all the best lines in this message. He told us many stories of the hospitality he enjoyed. He usually lived in Bath, England, but was visiting us in Austin, Texas. We feel very lucky to have been able to spend time with him on a regular basis. He was no respecter of convention, except comic conventions. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Richard was a talented actor and director whose career spanned four decades and dozens of projects. He edited another draft of his latest project two days before death, with its sorcerer’s ways, took him from us. He has gone to the Stars, and he will be missed. We love you dad, and thank you to everyone. Love, Rhiannon, Stephanie, and Tyrone Le Parmentier.